Apparatus for determining the firmness of fillers in cigarette rods or the like

ABSTRACT

The firmness of rod-like fillers in cigarettes or cigarette rods is determined by directing an air stream against the wrapper of a cigarette or cigarette rod and by measuring the extent of deformation which the filler undergoes in response to deforming pressure of the air stream. The results of measurements can be utilized to furnish visual indications of firmness, to furnish visual indications of differences between a desired firmness and the measured firmness, to furnish visual indications of average firmness of predetermined lengths of the filler, and/or to effect automatic adjustment of the machine which produces the filler.

United States Patent 1191 von der Lohe et a1.

1 51 Nov. 25, 1975 1 APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING THE FIRMNESS OF FILLERSIN CIGARETTE RODS OR THE LIKE [75] Inventors: Joachim von der Lohe;Heinz Gretz,

both of Hamburg; Uwe Heilmann, Luneburg, all of Germany [73] Assignee:Hauni-Werke Korber & Co. KG,

Hamburg, Germany 221 Filed: Mar. 5, 1971 21 App1.No.;121,404

Related US. Application Data [621 Division of Ser. No, 764,482, Oct 2,1968, Pat. No.

2,952,262 9/1960 Pocock et a1. 3,031,883 5/1962 Pocock et a1, 131/21 B3,089,497 5/1963 Molins et a1, 131/21 D 3,288,147 11/1966 Molins et a1.131/21 D 3,306,304 2/1967 Molins et a1. 131/21 D 3,380,351 4/1968 Cox eta1,,,... 131/21 B X 3,411,513 11/1968 Knobel 1 1 1 4 4 r ,.131/21B3,428,052 2/1969 Patterson [31/21 H X 3,431,914 3/1969 Richter r. 131/21A 3,633,590 1/1972 Pocock et a1. 1 131/21 B FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 958,207 5/1964 United Kingdom H 131/21 B 961,731 6/1964United Kingdom 131/21 D 242,333 12/1962 Australia ,1 131/21 D PrimaryExaminer]oseph S. Reich Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Michael S, Striker [57]ABSTRACT The firmness of rod-like fillers in cigarettes or cigaretterods is determined by directing an air stream against the wrapper of acigarette or cigarette rod and by measuring the extent of deformationwhich the filler undergoes in response to deforming pressure of the airstream. The results of measurements can be utilized to furnish visualindications of firmness, to furnish visual indications of differencesbetween a desired firmness and the measured firmness, to furnish visualindications of average firmness of predetermined lengths of the tiller,and/or to effect automatic adjustment of the machine which produces thefiller.

1 Claim, 9 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet 2 of43,921,644

049! #:ITHAN mml.

HTTORNFV U.S. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet 4 of4 3,921,644

Wen/or.-

APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING THE FIRMNESS OF FILLERS IN CIGARETTE RODS ORTHE LIKE CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This is a division ofour copending application Ser. No. 764,482, filed Oct. 2, 1968, now US.Pat. No. 3,595,067 granted July 27, 1971.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a methodand apparatus for testing of cigarettes or analogous tobaccocontainingarticles, and more particularly to a method and apparatus fordetermining the firmness or feel" of tobacco fillers in cigarettes,cigarette rods or the like. Still more particularly, the inventionrelates to improvements in a method and apparatus for automaticallydetermining the firmness of fillers in wrapped continuoustobacco-containing rods or in tobacco-containing rods of finite length.The invention also relates to a method and to a machine forautomatically regulating the production of fillers for cigarette rods orthe like so that the firmness of such fillers remains within a desiredoptimum range.

Manufacturers of cigarettes, cigarillos or similar wrapped rod-shapedtobacco-containing articles must take particular care to insure that thefirmness of the filler is satisfactory to the consumer. In other words,the firmness of the filler must be such that a smoker holding thecigarette between two fingers gains the impression that the wrapper isproperly filled and will not yield to a certain finger pressure.Moreover, the manufacturer must insure that the firmness of the fillerin each of a batch of smoking articles is the same, i.e., that a pack oranother receptacle for cigarettes does not contain cigarettes havingfillers of different firmness. The average smoker is not concerned withthe weight of a cigarette; all that counts to him is that the touch orfeel of the cigarette be satisfactory.

The firmness of the filler depends on the filling force which is afunction of the elasticity and mass of tobacco particles in the filler.When a filler contains highly elastic tobacco shreds or strands, itsweight per unit length can be reduced considerably without affecting thefirmness. The smoker does not detect the reduced weight of the fillerbecause the feel of a cigarette containing a filler which is composed ofhighly elastic tobacco shreds is the same as that of a much heavierfiller which contains less elastic particles of comminuted tobacco.

It is already known to test the firmness of fillers in cigarettes by adevice which comprises a row of rams and means for urging the ramsagainst the wrapp r of a cigarette with a predetermined force. Theextent of displacement of rams in response to the application of suchforce is indicative of the firmness of the filler. This device is stillin experimental stage and exhibits several serious drawbacks, especiallyhigh initial cost, complicatedness and the fact that the results areavailable with a considerable delay following completion of the test sothat such results cannot be utilized to bring about immediate remdialaction in the production of fillers.

British Pat. No. 985,49l discloses a mechanical device which utilizes aspringy feeler serving to detect the dimensions of fillers and to adjustthe distributor or the trimming device of a cigarette rod making machinewhen the dimensions of the filler deviate from a desired value. Thisdevice is used exclusively as a means for de- 2 tecting the mass ofunwrapped filler streams, not the firmness, of wrapped cigarette rods.

US. Pat. No. 2,952,262 discloses a pneumatic apparatus for detectingvariations in the quantity of tobacco contained in a paper tube. Thispatent relies on a procedure which is known from the art of measuringthe diameters of wires and proposes to cause a gas to flow past a lengthof cigarette rod at a rate determined by the cross-sectional size of therod. The pressure of gas in such as to be not greater than the desiredminimum pressure of tobacco within the cigarette paper wrapper.Therefore, the method and apparatus of this patent cannot determine thefirmness of fillers and much less positive deviations of firmness from adesired optimum range.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One of several important objects of ourinvention is to provide a method of rapidly and accurately determiningthe firmness of masses of comminuted tobacco particles or the like,particularly of determining the firmness offeel" rod-like fillers in thewrappers of cigarettes, cigarette rods or like rod-shaped articlesaccording to which the firmness of fillers can be measured continuously,with a minimum of delay, and in such a way that the results ofmeasurements indicate variations in firmness of a certain length of arod-like filler, the average firmness of a certain length of filler,differences between a desired firmness and the measured firmness, theextent to which the measured firmness exceeds or is less than a desiredfirmness, and/or a combination of the above.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a simple andreliable automatic apparatus for testing the firmness or feel of fillersin cigarette rods or the like and to construct the apparatus in such away that it can furnish readily detectable readings indicating thefirmness, either at regularly recurring intervals or at the will of theperson in charge.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which canbe built into or combined with a cigarette rod making machine or anothersuitable fillerproducing machine to monitor the firmness of the fillerand to effect appropriate adjustments of the machine when the firmnessis unsatisfactory and which can determine the firmness of rod-likefillers in cigarettes or cigarette rods without defacing the wrappers,without unduly deforming or otherwise affecting the appearance and/orquality of tested articles, and with a degree of accuracy which isunmatched by presently known apparatus. The improved testing apparatusboth as to its construction and its mode of operation, together withadditional features and advantages thereof, will be best understood uponperusal of the following detailed description of certain specificembodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is an axial sectional view of adeforming nozzle forming part of a testing apparatus which embodies theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a similar axial sectional view of a second deforming nozzle;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic partly sectional view of a testing apparatuswhich employs the deforming nozzle of FIG. 2 and is utilized toautomatically determine differences between measured average firmness ofa filler rod and the desired average firmness;

FIG. 4 is a similar diagrammatic partly sectional view of a testingapparatus which constitutes a modification of the apparatus shown inFIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic partly sectional view of a testing apparatuswhich is utilized to determine the differences between measured firmnessand the desired maximum or minimum firmness of a filler rod of finitelength;

FIG. 6 is a schematic partly elevational and partly sectional view of acigarette rod making machine whose operation is regulated by a testingapparatus similar to the one shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the testing apparatus for the machine ofFIG. 6; FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic and partly sectional view of a portionof a modified cigarette rod making machine; and

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 7 of a testing apparatus which can beutilized to regulate the operation of the machine shown in FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 illustrates a portion ofan apparatus which determines the firmness of a mass of tobacco, namely,the firmness of the rod-like filler in a continuous cigarette rod 101.The rod 101 comprises a filler of shredded tobacco which is enclosed ina tubular wrapper of cigarette paper. The apparatus includes an annulardeforming nozzle 102 which admits a stream of gas, preferably air,against the external surface of the wrapper in the cigarette rod 101.The deforming nozzle 102 comprises two inlets 103, 104 for compressedair and an outlet 106 which is connected with a testing or evaluatingdevice serving to determine the characteristics of air in the annularchamber 107 of the nozzle 102. The chamber 107 communicates with theoutlet 106 by way of a channel 108. The central portion of the chamber107 communicates with an annular opening 109 extending into the surfacesurrounding the central passage or orifice for the cigarette rod 101.

The operation:

The inlets 103, 104 are connected with a source of compressed air sothat a stream of air flows into the chamber 107 and against theperipheral surface of that circumferentially complete portion of thewrapper which is surrounded by the opening 109. Depending on thefirmness of the tiller in the cigarette rod 101, air which impingesagainst the wrapper in the region of the opening 109 effects a greateror lesser elastic deformation of the filler in the cigarette rod so thatthe wrapper is formed with an annular constriction or neck which causesthe cigarette rod to develop two annular beads flanking the constrictionand to produce a more or less pronounced sealing action between thewrapper and the annular surfaces flanking the opening 9. Thus, when thefiller is relatively soft (readily deformable), the wrapper of thecigarette rod 101 produces a stronger sealing action so that thepressure of air which flows into the channel 108 rises becausecompressed air admitted at 103, 104 cannot escape by way of the opening109. When the tobacco filler is firm, the sealing action of the wrapperin the region of the opening 109 is less pronounced and the pressure ofair in the channel 108 decreases. A very firm tobacco filler canwithstand the pressure of air in the chamber 107 and does not permit anyappreciable deformation of the wrapper. The air stream is then free toflow around the wrapper and to escape from the opening 109 with aminimum of oh- 4 struction so that the pressure in the channel 108 doesnot increase at all. Thus. the chamber 107 and the channel 108constitute that portion of the nozzle 102 which can measure elasticdeformation and hence the firmness of the filler in the cigarette rod101. The firmness is inversely proportional to the extent of deformationof the filler. The outlet 106 discharges a series of pneumatic signalswhich form an air stream and whose magnitude (pressure) is indicative ofthe firmness of corresponding increments of the filler in the rod 101.The pressure of testing air is preferably less than required to effect apermanent deformation of the filler.

FIG. 2 illustrates a modified annular deforming nozzle 2 which surroundsa travelling cigarette rod 1. The nozzle 2 comprises inlets 3, 4, anannular chamber 7, a central opening 9 surrounding the rod 1, and anannular inlet 11 which is machined into one of the surfaces flanking theopening 9 and communicates with a second annular chamber 12. The lattercommunicates with an outlet 6 which is connected with a testing orevaluating device. A channel 8 connects the chamber 12 with the inlet11.

The operation of this deforming nozzle is similar to that of the nozzle102. Compressed air which issues from the opening 9 causes deformationof the filler and wrapper in the cigarette rod 1 whereby the extent ofsuch deformation depends on the firmness or lack of firmness of thefiller. Tobacco shreds which are displaced in response to a constrictionof the wrapper in the area surrounded by the opening 9 cause the wrapperto bulge radially outwardly at both sides of the constriction and tothus furnish a more pronounced sealing action against the escape of airby way of the opening 9. If the sealing action of the wrapper ispronounced, the inlet 11 receives a greater amount of air and thepressure of air in the second chamber 12 increases. Such pressure isdetected by the evaluating or testing device which is connected to theoutlet 6.

Since the rod 1 is transported lengthwise, the pressure in the outlet 6is indicative of the firmness of successive increments of the filler inthe rod 1. The outlet 6 can be said to produce a series of pneumaticsignals whose magnitude reflects the extent of deformation and hence thefirmness of those increments of the filler which advance through thearea surrounded by the opening 9. The aforementioned evaluating ortesting device determines the changes of that characteristic (pressure)of air issuing from the outlet 6 which is variable as a function of theresistance offered by corresponding increments of the filler todeformation by the air stream entering the opening 9 of the deformingnozzle 2. In this embodiment of our testing apparatus, the opening 9admits a stream of air radially inwardly against the wrapper of thecigarette rod 1, and the thus admitted stream is deflected in theopposite direction (i.e., substantially radially outwardly) to enter thechannel 8 and the second chamber 12.

FIG. 3 illustrates a testing apparatus including an annular deformingnozzle 20 which surrounds a travelling cigarette rod 1a and cooperateswith a pneumatic testing or evaluating device serving to determinedeviations of the firmness of successive increments of the rod-likefiller from an optimum standard value. The testing device includes apneumatic testing unit 16 which receives from the outlet 60 of thenozzle 2a signals indicating the firmness of successive increments ofthe filler and comprises an averaging unit which produces and storessignals indicating the average firmness S of several increments of thetravelling filler. The testing unit 16 is connected with an integratorunit 17 and the latter is connected with a signal amplifier unit 18. Thetesting apparatus further comprises a second pneumatic averaging unit 19and a reducing or indicating unit 21.

The averaging unit of the testing unit 16 comprises a so-called laminarresistor 23 in series with an air tank 24 provided with a pressure gauge26. The tank 24 is in series with an adjusting cylinder 27 whichaccommodates a piston 29 biased by a helical spring 28. The piston 29can actuate an adjustable setting or regulating valve 31 which isadjusted in dependency on the average firmness of the filler in the rodto thereby regulate an air stream whose rate of flow is proportional tothe firmness of the filler. The construction of the laminar resistor 23is such that its resistance does not change in response to changes inair pressure or in response to changes in quantity of the air flowingtherethrough.

The integrator unit 17 comprises an inlet 33 for compressed air, twoinlets 34, 36 for reference air streams and two outlets 37, 38 thelatter of which is in communication with the atmosphere. Integratorunits which can be utilized in the apparatus of FIG. 3 normally op erateon the principle known as Coanda effect. Such units are known as fluidicsumming junctions and are manufactured by Corning Glass Works ofCorning, NY. (see item No. l907l in Catalogue of January, 1967).

The amplifier unit 18 comprises a housing 41 with an amplifier diaphragm42 and two openings 43, 44 for air. The diaphragm 42 is coupled with aflap 46 which is mounted externally of the housing 41 and controls twonozzles 47, 48. The nozzle 48 is connected to the opening 44 by a pipe50 and with a laminar resistor 49. The latter is connected to theatmoshpere by way of a pipe 45. The other nozzle 47 is connected withthe opening 43 of the housing 41 by way of a further laminar resistor51. The intensity of the signal furnished by the nozzle 47 is the squareof the intensity of the signal at the opening 43. The pipe 45 admits tothe laminar resistor 49 air for admission into the nozzle 48. The pipe50 admits air to the diaphragm 42 in the housing 41. A similar amplifierunit is shown, for example, in FIG. 27 on page 151 of the publicationentitled Regelungstechnik", Volume 4, published in 1967.

The second averaging unit 19 comprises a laminar resistor 52 and an airtank 53. The reducing unit 21 comprises an appropriately calibratedpressure gauge 54. The pipe connecting the laminar resistor 52 with thetank 53 communicates with a pipe 56 which contains a valve 57 operatedby a solenoid 58 and having a valve member 77 which moves to thebroken-line position when the solenoid 58 is energized. A return spring78 urges the valve member 77 to the solid-line position of FIG. 3. Thecircuit of the solenoid 58 includes a time-lag device here shown as acapacitor 59 which is charged by an energy source 60 in response toclosing of a master switch 61 to maintain the solenoid 58 in energizedcondition for a predetermined interval of time. The exact moment whenthe capacitor 59 is fully charged following closing of the master switch61 is indicated by a lamp 62.

The testing or evaluating device of FIG. 3 further comprises adjustablevalves 63, 64, 66 and laminar resistors 67. 68. A supply conduit 69furnishes compressed air from a compressor. pump or blower. The

pressure of air entering the inlet 33 of the integrator unit 17 isindicative of the desired optimum firmness of the filler in the rod la.The pressure of air at the inlet 34 is indicative of measured averagefirmness, and the pressure of air at the inlet 36 varies as a functionof the firmness of successive increments of the filler in the rod la.

The operation is as follows:

The cigarette rod 1a is moved lengthwise through the area surrounded bythe central opening of the nozzle 20, and the outlet 60 of the nozzledischarges a series of pneumatic signals which form an air stream andwhose pressure is indicaof the firmness of the corresponding incrementsof the filler in the cigarette rod 10. A portion of the thus dischargedair stream enters the tank 24 by way of the laminar resistor 23. Thetank 24 serves as an averaging element, i.e., as a means for damping thesignals, in that it eliminates short-lasting fluctuations in thepressure of incoming air stream. This is due to inertia of theseries-connected parts 23, 24. Pressure in the tank 24 changes inresponse to longer-lasting deviations of firmness from a standard valueso that readings furnished by the gauge 26 represent an average value ofthe pressure which depends on the firmness of the filler in thecigarette rod la. The pressure of air in the tank 24 causes the piston29 in the cylinder 27 to assume a position which is a function of thefirmness of the filler, and the piston 29 adjusts the setting valve 31to regulate the air stream which flows through this valve. It can besaid that this air stream constitutes a pneumatic output signal whosecharacteristics vary as a function of changes in average firmness of thefiller in the rod la. A pipe 71 is connected with the supply conduit 69upstream of the valve 31 and serves to deliver a stream of compressedair to the inlet 34 of the integrator unit 17. As stated before, thepressure of such air stream is proportional to the pressure of air inthe tank 24. the other inlet 36 of the integrator unit 17 is connectedwith a pipe 72 which receives air from the outlet 6a so that thepressure of air in the inlet 36 fluctuates in the same way as thefirmness of successive increments of the filler in the rod 10. The inlet33 admits to the integrator unit 17 compressed air from the conduit 69by way of a pipe 73 which contains the valve 66. The valve 66 isadjusted in such a way that the pressure of air at the inlet 33corresponds to or reflects the desired optimum firmness of the filler.The air stream which enters via inlet 33 is deflected to the right or tothe left, as viewed in FIG. 3, depending on the pressure of air which isadmitted by way of the inlets 34, 36. The pressure at the outlet 37 isindicative of the difference between the pressures in the inlets 34, 36.Air issuing at 37 fiows through a pipe which is connected to the opening43 so that such air exerts pressure against the upper side of thediaphragm 42 in the housing 41. A pipe 74 which branches from the pipe75 upstream of the opening 43 is connected with the laminar resistor 51in the amplifier unit 18 to admit air into the nozzle 47. The stream ofair issuing from the orifice of the nozzle 47 impinges against the flap46. A pipe 76 which is connected with the pipe 74 in the region betweenthe laminar resistor 51 and nozzle 47 transmits signals whose intensityis the square of the intensity of pneumatic signals emitted by theoutlet 37 of the integrator unit 17. The air tank 53 of the averagingunit 19 has a large time constant and the pressure therein is indicativeof the average value of amplified pneumatic signals furnished by thepipe 76. The gauge 54 of the reducing unit 21 indicates the pres- 7 sureof air in the tank 53.

The operation of the testing device is started in response to closing ofthe master switch 61. The switch 61 is held in closed position until thesignal lamp 62 lights up to indicate that the capacitor 59 is charged.The solenoid 58 is energized and moves the valve member 77 to thebroken-line position to seal the pipe 56 and to thereby seal the outletof the tank 53. Thus. the pressure of air in the tank 53 begins to riseabove atmospheric pressure. After the elapse of a predetermined intervalof time, for example, after one minute. the charge of the capacitor 59drops sufficiently to permit the spring 78 to return the valve member 77in the valve 57 to the solid-line position. The pointer of the gauge 54remains in the position of maximum deflection from zero position andthus indicates the average deviation of firmness of the filler in thecigarette rod In from a desired standard firmness.

A fresh testing operation can begin as soon as the pressure in the tank53 decreases to atmospheric pressure and in response to renewal closingof the master switch 61. Thus, the apparatus of FIG. 3 is always readyto furnish information as to the standard deviation of firmness fromdesired firmness and the gauge 54 furnished readings in response toclosing of the master switch 61.

An important advantage of the just described apparatus is that itfurnishes information which is indicative of average deviations offirmness of the filler from a desired standard firmness. Thus, it is notnecessary to carry out a series of short-lasting measurements and tothereby calculate the average deviation on the basis of a series ofshort-lasting tests. The measurements carried out by the apparatus ofP16. 3 are detected with a certain delay because the pointer of thegauge 54 indicates the average deviation of firmness from standardfirmness in that portion of the filler in the rod 10 which has alreadyadvanced beyond the opening of the nozzle 2a. However, this is of noconsequence because the firmness of a filler changes rather gradually.

1n the apparatus of FIG. 3, the nozzle causes deformation of successiveincrements of the filler, the outlet 6a of the nozzle furnishespneumatic signals which indicate the firmness of successive incrementsof the filler, the averaging unit 23, 24 of the testing unit 16 producesa signal which indicates the average firmness of several successiveincrements of the filler, the valve 31 serves to produce an outputsignal which is indicative of the average firmness of several successiveincrements (such signal, i.e., the air stream flowing through the valve31, can be utilized to adjust the machine which produces the filler forthe rod la), the integrator unit 17 furnishes at 37 a series of signalswhich indicate deviations of the firmness of successive increments ofthe filler from a desired standard firmness, the amplifier unit 18amplifies such signals, and the averaging unit 19 furnishes a signal (at54) which is indicative of average deviation of firmness from thedesired firmness. The parts 56-62 constitute a means for initiating andterminating the operation of the averaging unit 19 for desired periodsof time.

The testing or evaluating apparatus of HG. 4 is similar to the justdescribed apparatus and many of its parts are denoted by similarnumerals plus 100. The purpose of this apparatus is to process pneumaticsignals which are admitted by way of a pipe 175 and represent theaverage value of differences between measurements carried out at aremote point and indicating, for example.

the firmness of successive increments of a cigarette rod. Signalstransmitted by the pipe need not necessarily be obtained by pneumaticmeans in a manner as shown in FIG. 3. Thus, it is also possible toproduce pneumatic signals in response to measurements which are carriedout by mechanical means and which can represent the firmness or anothercharacteristic of the filler in a cigarette or cigarette rod. Thus,signals admitted by way of the pipe 175 can represent deviations of theweight of successive increments of a travelling cigarette rod from astandard value.

The parts in the amplifier unit 118 of the apparatus shown in FIG. 4 areidentical to the corresponding parts of the amplifier unit 18 in FIG. 3.The amplifier unit 118 is connected with a pneumatic integrator orsumming junction 181 by way of a pipe 176. The integrator 181 has aninlet 182 connected with a pipe 188 corresponding to the pipe 73 of FIG.3 and containing a regulating valve 189. The integrator 181 furthercomprises inlets 183, 184 and outlets 186, 187 which respectivelycorrespond to the inlets 34, 36 and to the outlets 37, 38 of theintegrator unit 17 in FlG. 3. A similar integrator, called proportioningdevice, is described by Coming Glass Works as item No. 190040 in theCatalog dated May 1966.

The outlet 186 of the integrator 181 is connected with a pressure gauge191 and with a valve 157 which can be opened by a solenoid 158. Thevalve 157 is installed in a pipe which further contains a laminarresistor 152 and discharges into the air tank 153 of the averaging unit119. The circuit of the solenoid 158 includes an energy source 192 and amaster switch 194 which is periodically opened by a rotary cam 193.

Signals furnished by the pipe 175 are amplified in the unit 1 18 and aretransmitted to the integrator 181 prior to being transmitted to thesecond integrator unit 119. When the cam 193 allows the master switch194 to close, the solenoid 158 is energized and opens the valve 157 fora predetermined intervaal of time so that the latter transmits pneumaticsignals to the averaging unit 1 19. The intensity of such signals is afunction of signals which are transmitted by way of the pipe 175.

1n the manufacture of cigarettes, it is often desirable to determinedeviations of firmness of fillers in cigarettes from an arithmeticaverage value, especially to determine whether or not the averagefirmness of the filler in a cigarette exceeds or is below a certaindesirable maximum or minimum value. An apparatus which can furnishinformation whether or not the average firmness of discrete cigarettes201 exceeds a permissible maximum value or is below a permissibleminimum value is shown in FIG. 5. This apparatus comprises a deformingnozzle 202 which corresponds to the nozzle 2 of FIG. 2; however, it isequally possible to employ the deforming nozzle 101 of FIG. 1. Thecigarette 201 is a filter cigarette and its filter tip 203 is held bytwo jaws 206, 207 which are biased thereagainst by a spring 204. Thejaws 206, 207 form part of a gripper or holder 208 which is reciprocableby a drive including a fluidoperated cylinder 209 and serves as a meansfor effecting relative movement between the deforming nozzle 202 and thefiller in the cigarette 201. The cylinder 209 accommodates a piston 211having a piston rod 212 which supports the gripper 208. The cylinder 209is connected with a first pair of conduits 213, 214 which admit fluidserving to move the piston 209 in a direction to the left, as viewed inFIG. 5, and with a second pair of conduits 216, 217 which admit fluid tomove the piston 209 in a direction to the right. The means forregulating the flow of fluid by way of the conduits 213, 214, 216, 217comprises a valve 218 having a reciprocable valve member 219 which isprovided with a stem 22] connected with a follower 220. A supply conduit222 for compressed air accommodates a manually operated control valve223 and an adjustable throttle valve 224. The right-hand portion of thepiston rod 212 of the piston 211 in the cylinder 209 has two axiallyspaced abutments 227, 228 for the follower 220. The control valve 223has a plunger 287 which is reciprocable by a lever 286.

The outlet 2060 of the nozzle 202 serves to transmit pneumatic signalswhich indicate the firmness of suc cessive increments of the filler inthe cigarette 201. This outlet 2060 is connected with a pipe 229 whichaccommodates a valve 231 having a piston 288 provided with a piston rod232 having two axially spaced followers 233, 234. The left-hand portionof the piston rod 212 carries a further abutment 226. In one position ofthe piston 288, pneumatic signals transmitted by the outlet 2060 can beadmitted into an averaging unit 239 including a laminar resistor 236 andan air tank 237 provided with a pressure gauge 238. The averaging unit239 serves as a storing means for signals indicating the arithmeticaverage valve of firmness of the filler in the cigarette 201. In theother position of the piston 288 in the valve 231, the pipe 229 connectsthe outlet 2060 of the nozzle 202 with pipes 241, 242 which respectivelycontain laminar resistors 243, 244 and are connected with integrators inthe form of Schmitt triggers 248, 249. These integrators operate on theprinciple known as Coanda effect and are manufactured by Corning GlassWorks (see the item No. 190462 in Catalogue of May 1966).

The numerals 251, 252 denote two additional laminar resistors. Theaforementioned air tank 237 is connected with pipes 253, 254 which arerespectively connected with adjusting cylinders 256, 257 for two regulating valves 258, 259. The cylinder 256 accommodates a piston 261 whichis biased by a spring 263 and is connected with the valve 258. The valve259 is connected with a piston 262 installed in the cylinder 257 andbiased by a helical spring 264. The valves 258, 259 are installed inpipes 269, 271 branching from a supply conduit 266 for compressed airwhich is also connected with an inlet of the nozzle 202 by way of athrottle valve 276 and laminar resistor 277. The valves 258, 259respectively admit air to the inlets 272, 273 of the Schmitt triggers248, 249. The supply conduit 266 contains an adjustable throttle valve274. This valve insures that the pressure of air at the inlets 267, 268of Schmitt triggers 248, 249 represents the desired standard firmness ofthe filler in the cigarette 201. The Schmitt triggers 248, 249 furthercomprise outlets 278, 279 and 281, 282. The outlets 278, 281 arerespectively connected with gauges 283, 284.

The operation:

In order to test the firmness of the filler in the cigarette 201, thelatters filter tip 203 is inserted between the jaws 206, 207 of thegripper 208 in that the jaws are moved apart against the opposition ofthe spring 204. The spring 204 thereupon contracts and biases the jawsagainst the filter tip so that the cigarette 201 is held in the positionshown in FIG. 5. In the next step. the plunger 287 of the control valve223 is moved by the lever 286 to assume its phantom-line position sothat compressed air can flow through the supply conduit 222, throttlevalve 224, control valve 223 and a pipe 289 to the conduit 213 and intothe right-hand cham ber of the cylinder 209. The piston 211 causes thepiston rod 212 to move in a direction to the left and to move thegripper 208 and the cigarette 201 in the same direction. The wrapper ofthe cigarette 201 passes through the central opening of the nozzle 202and the outlet 206a transmits pneumatic signals which indicate thefirmness of successive increments of the filler. Such signals aretransmitted to the averaging unit 239. When the entire filler of thecigarette 201 advances through the central opening of the nozzle 202,the abutment 226 of the piston rod 212 engages the follower 233 on therod 232 of the piston 288 and moves the latter to the phantom-linepostion in which the outlet 206a is connected with the pipes 241, 242.The averaging unit 239 is then sealed from the nozzle 202. The pressurein the tank 237 of the averaging unit 239 is indicative of thearithmetic average value of the firmness of all increments of the tillerin the cigarette 201, and such pressure causes the adjusting cylinder256 to change the setting of regulating valves 258, 259 in the pipes269, 271 which admit air to the inlets 272, 273 of the Schmitt triggers248, 249.

When the abutment 226 of the piston rod 212 engages the follower 233 onthe piston rod 232, the abutment 228 of the piston rod 212 engages thefollower 220 and moves the valve member 219 to the brokenline positionof FIG. 5. Compressed air flowing through the conduit 222 is thenadmitted to a pipe 291 which communicates with the conduit 216, i.e.,the piston 211 moves back toward the position shown in FIG. 5. Duringsuch rightward movement of the piston rod 212, the piston 288 dwells inits phantom-line position and connects the outlet 206a with the pipes241, 242 which transmit pneumatic signals to the inlets 246, 247 of theSchmitt triggers 248, 249. When the deviations of average firmness(determined by the averaging unit 239 and stored in the tank 237) exceeda predetermined maximum or minimum value, the outlets 278, 281 of theSchmitt triggers 248, 249 produce signals which are indicated by thegauges 283, 284.

When the abutment 226 of the piston rod 212 reaches the follower 234,the piston 288 in the valve 231 returns to the solid-line position ofFIG. 5. At the same time, the abutment 227 of the piston rod 212 engagesthe follower 220 and returns the valve member 219 to the illustrated solid-line position. This completes the testing operation.

The apparatus of FIG. 5 furnishes information regarding deviation offirmness of the cigarette filler above a permissible maximum firmness orbelow a permissible minimum firmness. However, this apparatus can bereadily converted to furnish information regarding deviations of averagefirmness of cigarettes 201 from a desired standard average firmness. Tothis end, one of the Schmitt triggers 248, 249 (for example, the trigger249) can be omitted, together with the corresponding regulating valve(259) and the other Schmitt trigger (248) is replaced by an integratorunit corresponding to the unit 17 of FIG. 3. The thus modified apparatusthen further comprises an amplifier unit (18), a second averaging unit(19) and a reducing unit (21).

In the apparatus of FIG. 5, the filler of the cigarette 201 is testedtwice. namely. for the first time during leftward movement of the holder208 (for the purpose of enabling the averaging unit 239 to determine thea\ erage firmness of the filler), and for the second time during returnmovement of the holder 208 (for the purpose of supplying to the inlets246, 247 of Schmitt trigger 248, 249 signals which indicate the firmnessof successive increments of the filler) in the cigarette rod 201. TheSchmitt triggers 248, 249 respectively respond (i.e.. the gauges 283,284 furnish readings) when the firmness of the filler is respectivelyabove or below a predetermined optimum range.

FIG. 6 illustrates certain details of a cigarette rod making machinewherein the trimming or equalizing device 311 is adjusted in accordancewith signals furnished by a testing or evaluating device 322 formingpart of an apparatus for determining the firmness of successiveincrements of the cigarette rod 301. The apparatus further comprises anannular deforming nozzle 302 which is similar to or identical with thenozzle 2 or 102 and is installed in the cigarette rod making machineupstream of the customary cutoff (not shown) which serves to subdividethe cigarette rod 301 into cigarette rod sections of unit length ormultiple unit length.

The cigarette rod making machine of FIG. 6 further comprises anadjustable distributor 303 which is driven by an adjustable prime moverhere shown as an electric motor 305 and showers shredded tobaccoparticles 304 onto the upper stretch of an endless belt 307. The latterconverts showered tobacco particles into a stream which is fed into thecircumferential groove 309 of a conveyor here shown as a suction wheel308. This wheel holds the tobacco stream in the groove 309 by suctionand advances it past the trimming device 311 which removes excesstobacco to convert the stream into a filler rod 3010. The filler rod301a is then fed into a wrapping mechanism 312 wherein it is providedwith a tubular wrapper consisting of cigarette paper tape 313 to be thusconverted into the cigarette rod 301. The mechanism 312 comprises anendless belt 310 which constitutes a means for effecting relativemovement between the deforming nozzle 302 and cigarette rod 301. Themeans for applying adhesive to overlapping edges of the wrapper and themeans for heating the resulting seam are of conventional design and arenot shown in FIG. 6.

The trimming device 311 comprises a rotary cutter 316 which is driven byan electric motor 314 and is adjustable with the motor radially of thesuction wheel 308 (arrow 318) by an adjusting device including apneumatic servomotor 317. The thus removed surplus of shredded tobaccois picked up by a collecting conduit 320. The servomotor 317 isconnected with the testing device 322 by two conduits 319, 321. Thetesting device 322 receives compressed air by way of a pipe 323 which isconnected with a main supply conduit 326. A further pipe 324 connectsthe testing device 322 with the outlet 306 of the nozzle 302. The inletor inlets of the nozzle 302 are connected to the aforementioned mainsupply conduit 326 by way of a throttle valve 327 and a laminar resistor328.

The details of the testing or evaluating device 322 are illustrated inFIG. 7. The aforementioned pipe 324 transmits pneumatic signals from theoutlet 306 of the deforming nozzle 302 to two pneumatic averaging units331, 332 each of which comprises a laminar resistor 333, 334 in serieswith an air tank 336, 337. The outlet of the averaging unit 331 isconnected with a pipe 338 and by way of such pipe with the first inlets341, 342 of two integrator units 343, 344. The output of the averagingunit 332 is connected to the first inlets 346, 347

of two Schmitt triggers 348, 349 by way of a pipe 339.

The integrator units 343, 344 further comprise second inlets 351, 352which are connected to a pipe 353 re- 5 ceiving compressed air from themain supply conduit 326 by way of a throttle valve 354. the Schmitttriggers 348, 349 have additional inlets 356, 357 which receivecompressed air from the main supply conduit 326 by way of the throttlevalve 354 and a pipe 358. The integrator units 343, 344 further comprisethird inlets 361, 362 which receive air by way of adjustable throttlevalves 363, 364 installed in pipes 366, 367 respectively branching fromthe pipes 358, 353. The Schmitt triggers 348, 349 also comprise thirdinlets 368, 369 re- 5 ceiving air from pipes 373, 374 containingadjustable throttle valves 371, 372. The integrator units 343, 344respectively comprise first outlets 376, 377 which communicate with theatmosphere and second outlets 381, 382 which are respectively connectedwith cylinders 383, 384. The Schmitt triggers 348, 349 have firstoutlets 378, 379 which are connected with the atmosphere and secondoutlets 396, 397 which are connected with cylinders 398, 399. Thecylinders 383, 384, 398, 399 respectively accommodate reciprocablepistons 388, 389, 401, 402 which are respectively biased by helicalsprings 391, 392, 403, 404. The pistons 388, 389 can adjust regulatingvalves 386, 387 by way of flexible diaphragms accommodated in housings393, 394. The cylinders 398, 399 are amplifier cylinders and theirpistons 401, 402 can adjust the position of pistons 411, 412 in controlvalves 406, 407. These pistons are respectively biased by springs 408,409. The control valves 406, 407 respectively regulate the flow of airin the conduits 319, 321 which furnish pneumatic signals to theservomotor 317. A common supply conduit 413 furnishes compressed air tothe conduits 319, 321 upstream of the valves 406, 407.

The elements 343, 344, 348, 349 are identical with or analogous to theintegrator unit 17 of FIG. 3 or to the unit 248 of FIG. 5.

The operation of the cigarette rod making machine of FIG. 6 and of thetesting apparatus shown in FIG. 7 is as follows:

The motor 305 drives the distributor 303 so that the belt 307 forms acontinuous tobacco stream and feeds it into the groove 309 of thesuction wheel 308. The stream is advanced past the cutter 316 of thetrimming device 311 which removes the surplus and converts the streaminto the filler rod 3010 which is thereupon wrapped on the belt 310 ofthe mechanism 312 to be converted into the cigarette rod 301. The tape313 is drawn upwardly onto the belt 310 and is converted into a tubularwrapper which is coated with adhesive and heated to form a strong seambetween the overlapping edge portions. The belt 310 advances the rod 301through the orifice of the deforming nozzle 302.

The nozzle 302 supplies air which deforms successive increments of thefiller 3010 in the cigarette rod 301 and its outlet 306 furnishespneumatic signals which indicate the firmness of such increments. Thesesignals are transmitted, by way of laminar resistors 333, 334, to theair tanks 336, 337 of the averaging units 331, 332. The purpose of theseaveraging units is to eliminate high-frequency fluctuations of thepneumatic signals. The thus modified signals indicate the average valueof firmness of the filler 301a and are transmitted by way of pipes 338,339 to the inlets 341, 342 of the integrator units 343, 344 as well asto the inlets 346,

347 of Schmitt triggers 348, 349. The corresponding desired values offirmness of the filler rod 3010 are furnished in the form of pneumaticsignals by way of inlets 361, 362 and 368, 369, i.e., by way of valves363, 364 and 371, 372. These valves are properly adjusted so that thepressure of air flowing into the inlets 361, 362, 368, 369 is indicativeof desired average firmness of the filler rod 301a.

Pressures developing at the outlets 381, 382 of the integrator units343, 344 are indicative of differences between measured and desiredvalues of firmness of the filler rod 301a. The pressure at the outlet381 is indicative of positive differences and the pressure at the outlet382 is indicative of negative differences between the measured anddesired values of firmness. Such pressures cause appropriate adjustmentof pistons 388, 389 in the cylinders 383, 384 and hence a correspondingadjustment of regulating valves 386, 387.

The pressures at the outlets 396, 397 of Schmitt triggers 348, 349develop when the intensity of signals indicating the measured firmnessis different'from the intensity of signals indicating the desiredstandard firmness. In such an instance, the pistons 401, 402 in thecylinders 398, 399 adjust the pistons 411, 412 of control valves 406,407 against the opposition of springs 408, 409 so that the conduits 319,321 receive compressed air from the supply conduit 413.

If the deviation of firmness is positive, i.e., if a particular sectionof the cigarette rod 301 contains a filler whose firmness exceeds thedesired firmness (as indicated by the Schmitt triggers 348), theposition of the piston 411 in the control valve 406 is changed so thatthe conduit 319 admits compressed air to the servomotor 317 whichadjusts the trimming device 311 in such a way that the latter removes agreater quantity of tobacco from the stream in the groove 309 of thesuction wheel 308. The amount of air which is admitted to the servomotor317 by way of the conduit 319 depends on the setting of the regulatingvalve 386 which is installed in the conduit 319 downstream of thecontrol valve 406 and is adjusted in accordance with the signal producedby the integrator unit 343. The signal for adjustment of the regulatingvalve 386 is transmitted by way of the piston 388 in the cylinder 383and by way of the diaphragm in the housing 393. The adjustment of theregulating valve 386 is proportional to the extent of deviation of themeasured firmness from the desired firmness, i.e., to the extent towhich the measured firmness exceeds the desired firmness.

If the difie rence between the measured firmness and the desiredfirmness is negative, i.e., if the measured firmness is less than thedesired firmness, the conduit 319 is sealed in response to closing ofthe valve control 406 and the control valve 407 connects the conduit 321with the supply conduit 413 so that the latter can admit to theservomotor 317 air in the amounts determined by setting of theregulating valve 387 which is mounted in the conduit 321 downstream ofthe control valve 407. It will be noted that the control valves 406, 407are shutoff valves. The servomotor 317 then adjusts the trimming device311 in such a way that the cutter 316 removes a lesser amount ofshredded to bacco so that the firmness of the filler 301a in thecigarette rod 30] increases.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrates a modified apparatus which can adjust thetrimming or equalizing device 511 (FIG. 8) in a simpler way. Certainparts of this modified apparatus and of the cigarette rod making machinewhich is 14 adjusted by such apparatus are denoted by reference numeralssimilar to those employed in FIGS. 6-7 plus 200.

The testing or evaluating device 522 of FIG. 9 comprises a singlepneumatic averaging unit 531, a single integrator unit 543 and a singlecylinder 583. The cylinder 583 is connected with the cylinder 602 of apneumatic servo unit by way of a pipe 601. The cylinder 602 accommodatesa piston 604 which is connected thereto by a diaphragm 606. The latterseals a plenum chamber 607 in the cylinder 602. This cylinder is mountedon a supporting rail 609 (FIG. 8) which guides an electric motor 514serving to rotate the cutter 516 of the trimming device 511. The motor514 and the cutter 516 are reciprocable (arrow 418) as a unit by thepiston rod (output member) 608 of the piston 604.

The operation is as follows:

The outlet 506 of the nozzle 502 (FIG. 9) sends pneumatic signals whichare indicative of firmness of the tiller 5010 in the cigarette rod 501.The latter is moved axially through the central passage of the nozzle502. The signals are transmitted to the averaging unit 531 whichsmoothes out high-frequency fluctuations of the continuouslytransmitting signals and transmits a signal which is indicative ofaverage measured firmness of the filler 5010 in the rod 501. Such signalis transmitted to the inlet 541 of the integrator unit 543. The inlet561 of this integrator unit is connected with a pipe 523 which transmitspneumatic signals indicating desired firmness of the filler 5010. suchsignal can be adjusted by the valves 554, 563. The outlet 581 of theintegrator 543 transmits a pneumatic signal to the cylinder 583 whichlatter serves as an amplifier and transmits amplified signals(indicating the difference between the measured firmness and desiredfirmness) by way of the pipe 601 and on to the plenum chamber 607 of thecylinder 602 of the servo unit for the trimming device 511. The outputmember 608 of the piston 604 adjusts the motor 514 and the cutter 516 inaccordance with the intensity of signals which are amplified by thecylinder 583.

If the difference between the measured and desired signals is positive,the pressure in the chamber 607 of the cylinder 602 rises and the outputmember 608 moves the motor 514 downwardly, as viewed in FIG. 8, so thatthe cutter 516 removes more tobacco and reduces the firmness of thefiller 501a. If the difference between the measured and desired valuesof firmness of the filler 501a is negative, i.e., if the desiredfirmness exceeds the measured firmness, the piston 588 moves upwardly,as viewed in FIG. 9, and the pressure in the chamber 607 of the cylinder602 decreases so that the spring 603 expands and the piston rod 608moves the motor 514 and the cutter 516 upwardly to reduce the amount oftobacco which is removed from the stream in the groove 509 of thesuction wheel 508.

It is clear that the firmness of the filler rod can be regulated in anumber of different ways without departing from the spirit of thepresent invention. For example, signals produced by the testingapparatus can be employed to adjust the distributor 303 of FIG. 6 sothat the latter changes the rate of discharge of tobacco shreds 304 as afunction of difference between the measured firmness and desiredfirmness of the filler rod. An apparatus which can adjust thedistributor is disclosed, for example. in British Pat. No. 933,691 Thedevice which adjusts the distributor in the cigarette rod making machineof this British patent can be readily designed to effect adjustments ofthe distributor in de- 1 5 pendency on the magnitude and direction(positive or negative) of signals which are furnished by a pneumatictesting apparatus of the type shown in FIG. 7 or 9.

The just described modification is illustrated schematically in FIG. 6wherein the variable-speed d-c motor 305 of the distributor 303 iscontrolled by a servo unit 701 which is connected with the nozzle 302 bya pipe 702. The servo unit 701 comprises a suitable transducer whichconverts pneumatic signals furnished by the pipe 702 and indicating themeasured firmness of the filler 301a into d-c voltage signals which areused to regulate the speed of the motor 305. When the firmnessdetermined by the nozzle 302 is less than the desired firmness, theservo unit 701 adjusts the speed of the motor 305 in a sense to reducethe output of the distributor 305 and to furnish less tobacco into thegroove 309 of the suction wheel 308. inversely, and when the firmness ofthe filler 3010 is less than the desired optimum firmness, the servounit 701 adjusts the motor 305 in a sense to increase the output of thedistributor 303 and to insure that the firmness of the rod 301aincreases. Transducers which can convert pneumatic signals into electricsignals are well known in the art; therefore, the details of the servounit 701 are not shown in FIG. 6. in addition to the transducer, theservo unit 701 may comprise a circuit which can compare signalsfurnished by the transducer with signals which indicate the desiredfirmness of the filler rod 301a and which produces signals to adjust thespeed of the motor 305 when the signals furnished by the transducer arestronger or weaker than the signals indicating the desired firmness.

The improved testing apparatus exhibits a number of importantadvantages. Thus, the apparatus can be used for determining the firmnessof fillers in discrete rodshaped articles (such as plain or filtercigarettes, cigars, cigarillos or the like) as well as for testing thefirmness of the filler in a continuous cigarette rod or other wrappedtobacco rod or filter rod. In other words, the apparatus can test thefirmness of the filler upstream or downstream of the customary cutoff ina cigarette rod making machine, depending upon whether the apparatusshould determine the firmness of a continuous filler or the firmness ofsections of a subdivided filler. The measurements carried out by ourtesting apparatus do not affect the quality, appearance and/or othercharacteristics of tested goods, and the signals furnished by thetesting apparatus are produced with no appreciable delay so that, whennecessary, the firmness of a filler can be adjusted immediately upondetection of excessive or insufficient firmness. Depending on the natureof remedial action (adjustment of the trimming device and/or adjustmentof the distributor), the testing apparatus can furnish signals whichindicate measured firmness which exceeds or is less than the desiredmaximum or minimum firmness or an average firmness which either exceedsor is less than the desired average firmness. As explained in connectionwith FIG. 7, pneumatic signals can be amplified and otherwise treated tobring about appropriate adjustment of the producing machine withoutnecessitating conversion of such signals into electrical, mechanical orother types of signals,

A further important advantage of the improved testing apparatus is thatit can be combined with and can regulate a continuous cigarette rodmaking machine or a like machine which forms and/or wraps a filler rod.The testing apparatus can adjust the machine in a fully automatic way,with a minimum of delay and with a high degree of accuracy so that themachine can furnish a cigarette rod wherein the firmness of the filleris within desired limits and that the feel of cigarettes or othersmokers articles obtained in response to subdivision of the wrappedtobacco rod is always satisfactory to the smokers. As stated before,signals produced by our testing apparatus can be used to adjust aproducing machine without necessitating conversion into electrical orother types of signals even though such conversion might be desirable incertain instances, for example, when the distributor is driven by anelectric motor.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims:

1. ln a machine for the production of articles containing comminutedtobacco, a combination comprising converting means for converting astream of comminuted tobacco particles into a rod-like filler, includingan equalizing device having removing means for removing tobaccoparticles from the stream; deforming means for directing a gas againstsuccessive increments of and for thereby subjecting the filler todeformation whose extent is inversely proportional to the firmness ofthe filler; measuring means for determining the extent of deformation ofthe filler and for producing signals indicating such deformation; andregulating means for regulating the quantity of comminuted tobacco inthe filler as a function of said signals, said regulating means beingarranged to change the position of said removing means with reference tothe stream and including a rotary pneumatic motor and a pair of conduitmeans for supplying compressed gas to said motor whereby the motorcauses said removing means to remove less tobacco in response toadmission of gas by way of one of said conduit means and to remove moretobacco in response to admission of gas by way of the other conduitmeans, said measuring means comprising means for producing signalsindicating positive and negative deviations from an optimum firmness ofthe filler, first control means provided in one of said conduit means toadmit gas to said motor in response to signals indicating said positivedeviations and second control means provided in the other conduit meansfor admitting to said motor gas in response to signals indicating saidnegative deviations.

1. In a machine for the production of articles containing comminutedtobacco, a combination comprising converting means for converting astream of comminuted tobacco particles into a rodlike filler, includingan equalizing device having removing means for removing tobaccoparticles from the stream; deforming means for directing a gas againstsuccessive increments of and for thereby subjecting the filler todeformation whose extent is inversely proportional to the firmness ofthe filler; measuring means for determining the extent of deformation ofthe filler and for producing signals indicating such deformation; andregulating means for regulating the quantity of comminuted tobacco inthe filler as a function of said signals, said regulating means beingarranged to change the position of said removing means with reference tothe stream and including a rotary pneumatic motor and a pair of conduitmeans for supplying compressed gas to said motor whereby the motorcauses said removing means to remove less tobacco in response toadmission of gas by way of one of said conduit means and to remove moretobacco in response to admission of gas by way of the other conduitmeans, said measuring means comprising means for producing signalsindicating positive and negative deviations from an optimum firmness ofthe filler, first control means provided in one of said conduit means toadmit gas to said motor in response to signals indicating said positivedeviations and second control means provided in the other conduit meansfor admitting to said motor gas in response to signals indicating saidnegative deviations.